Step 16: Taking Good Pictures

Step 17: Edit & Expand

After a day or two, read your Instructable again and ask yourself if it could be better.Correct spelling and grammar errors.Clarify language.Add links...

This is a community edited Instructable that goes over the process of making an Instructable. It covers appropriate subjects; the mechanics of adding text, images, and files; and the level of quality expected in an Instructable.

You can start your first Instructable by mousing over "Submit" on the top navigation and clicking "New Instructable." Or, you can just click here!

If you're new to the site, welcome! This guide will help you navigate through creating an Instructable.

Step 1: Subject matter

The best instructables are written by people who are passionate about what they do andwant to share their knowledge. So, the best question to ask yourself about writing an Instructable is this: "Am I passionate, enthusiastic, and really excited about the project I am about to share."

We are also looking for people to write Instructables on some specific topics. Check out the Burning Questions if you are looking for something to write an Instructable about.

If you have a question, comment, idea, or request for collaborators, please post that in the forums. Instructables must include instruction.

Of course, there are some exceptions. If you did something that completely failed, and can teach others how not to repeat your error, that can make an excellent Instructable. Check How Not To for a good example of this.

Please do not make Instructables that violate our terms of service. Here is a brief, human-readable version of the TOS.

Instructables is rapidly evolving, growing, and becoming more and more exciting. Our vision for the project is captured in the about page, but I thought you might enjoy a more practical approach. So, here's a human readable terms of service (from here).

Please use Instructables to:

Document and show off how you built your projects.

Projects can be in any form -- half-finished (the documentation should be complete),hot off your work bench, or fully debugged and ready to make a million units.If there's instruction, if someone can learn from and improve upon your work, it's an Instructable.

Demonstrate how to do something.

This could include showinghow to change a car tire,how to use a software product,how to sail a boat.

Solicit feedback or help on projects.

Post useful comments and suggestions on other people's projects.Work together with other users to improve on projects.Post derivative projects that show your contribution or innovation to an existing Instructable. We are working on tools to make this easier.

Market your project.

Did you make two widgets, but only need one?Are you willing to cook your awesome recipe for others?Are you the best at what you do and willing to share your service?Let people know. We are working on tools to make this easier.

Please don't use Instructables to:

Advertise without any useful instruction.

Post projects that are inappropriate.

There's a "grayzone" that includes all the things you might think it includes: obscene projects, clearly unsafe projects with no warning or instruction, and projects that are previously copyrighted or rely solely on copyrighted or otherwise protected materials. If your project is in the grayzone, we may decide to un-publish or delete it.

This article is a great "Instructable" on how to write an Instructable! Its helping me feel confident writing my first one on creating custom, designer fabrics. Thanks so much and check mine out! (Title: "Forged Fabrics") - Amy

Intro: IT IS ONLY A REQUEST . Pranaam to all ....................... I am research scholar and a small painter . I need a old computer to complete my research work . Please give an information that how to get free old computer to me . Thank you .............................. Krishna kumar K.V.( kvkkumar8@yahoo.com

I am Tony1Gunalan. I just joined instructables.. I find it amazing, a big site and learning to go from one place to another. Sometimes I wonder what will happen if I click certain buttons. Ok Ilke to meet all the other members and get help from them. Right now I am into laser drivers build with smd for i watt laser diode. Any one can willing to share the method to construct a smd laser driver. Share with me the circuit. I will be very gratefull.Passing learned knowledge down is the way to go. No one seems to want to share in laser pointer forum, not clear ,not step by step. Well Thank to instructables. Write another day.

hello,to all friends,i can not speake english very well.i want to help me all of your.i want the project that include ARM&avr whit maps and protel and proteuse picture and data sheet and pdf and clip project

The yellow button brings me to a completely new to start instructable. Apparently it is not possible to do steps from the screen that I got to when I just started an instructable,

Some instructions should greatly enhance making an instructable.

This ofcourse is no criticism on you mikeasaurus as you are just trying to help.I am just frustrated by the fact that I started an instructable, just by following the menu's. I then got to work in a screen that doesn't allow me to 'add' any steps and clicking the "Submit" button, brought me to a completely empty new instructable that had no relation to the one I had saved.Well cutting and pasting then in the new instructable I guess.

About This Instructable

Bio:Eric J. Wilhelm is the founder of Instructables. He has a Ph.D. from MIT in Mechanical Engineering. Eric believes in making technology accessible through understanding, and strives to inspire others ...read more »